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Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose 19 percent: Adjusted EPS of $3.20 and adjusted operating income of $753 million each rose 19 percent, and adjusted EPS was above the top of the prior $2.95 to $3.10 guidance. Source
  • On-site volumes drove profit: Adjusted operating income growth was attributed to higher on-site volumes, favorable currency, and lower costs from productivity and depreciation, net of fixed-cost inflation and higher Americas maintenance. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 23.7%: Adjusted operating margin was 23.7 percent against 21.6 percent a year earlier, driven by volumes and productivity, partly offset by energy cost pass-through and price. Source
  • Helium pricing headwind partly offset: Lower helium pricing was a headwind to results, partly mitigated by pricing improvements across non-helium product lines. Source
  • Helium supply chain actions: Management said it is increasing production in the U.S. network, drawing on a dedicated storage cavern, and increasing liquefaction to strengthen inventory. Source
  • Samsung selects company for Korea fab: Samsung selected the company to build, own and operate multiple production facilities and a bulk specialty gas supply system for a new advanced fab in South Korea. Source
  • Second-half benefits expected: Management expects second-half benefits from continued non-helium pricing actions, progress on productivity actions, and new assets ramping up. Source

“Despite macroeconomic volatility, Air Products delivered 19% growth in adjusted EPS and adjusted operating income improvement across segments.”

Chief Executive Officer Eduardo Menezes

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026 full year$13.00 to $13.25Raised from $12.85 to $13.15
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026 third quarter$3.25 to $3.35New
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026 full yearapproximately $4.0 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance raised to $13.00 to $13.25 from $12.85 to $13.15. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $3.25 to $3.35 given for the first time. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditure guidance of approximately $4.0 billion for fiscal 2026 continued without change. Source
  • New: Selected by Samsung to build, own and operate production facilities and a bulk specialty gas supply system for a South Korea fab. Source
  • New: Supplied liquid hydrogen and helium for NASA's Artemis II mission and announced plans for a new air separation unit in Cocoa, Florida. Source
  • New: Helium supply actions described: drawing on a U.S. storage cavern, increasing liquefaction, and optimizing the logistics network and container fleet. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose 19 percent: Adjusted EPS of $3.20 and adjusted operating income of $753 million each rose 19 percent, and adjusted EPS was above the top of the prior $2.95 to $3.10 guidance. Source
  • GAAP results reflect prior-year charges: GAAP EPS of $3.19 and GAAP operating income of $753 million each rose over 130 percent, with GAAP operating margin at 23.7 percent against negative 79.8 percent a year earlier. Source
  • On-site volumes drove profit: Adjusted operating income growth was attributed to higher on-site volumes, favorable currency, and lower costs from productivity and depreciation, net of fixed-cost inflation and higher Americas maintenance. Source
  • Sales rose nine percent: Sales of $3.2 billion rose nine percent, from four percent higher volumes, four percent favorable currency and two percent higher energy cost pass-through, less one percent lower pricing. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas profit up two percent: Americas operating income of $374 million rose two percent. Operating margin of 27.0 percent was 140 basis points lower than the prior year, with lower helium pricing offsetting favorable volumes. Source
  • Asia profit up 25 percent: Asia operating income rose 25 percent to $240 million, with margin of 28.8 percent up 410 basis points, helped by lower depreciation on gasification assets classified as held for sale. Source
  • Europe profit up eight percent: Europe operating income rose eight percent to $212 million. Operating margin of 26.8 percent was 10 basis points lower, as higher depreciation and fixed-cost inflation offset gains. Source
  • Middle East and India affiliates up slightly: Equity affiliates' income in the Middle East and India was $79 million, up one percent from the prior year. Source
  • Corporate loss narrowed 35 percent: Corporate and other sales rose 45 percent to $137 million. The operating loss of $77 million narrowed 35 percent on project estimate changes and productivity. Source

“Looking ahead, we remain focused on our key priorities - unlocking earnings growth, optimizing large projects and maintaining capital discipline.”

Chief Executive Officer Eduardo Menezes

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted operating margin rose to 23.7%: Adjusted operating margin was 23.7 percent against 21.6 percent a year earlier, driven by volumes and productivity, partly offset by energy cost pass-through and price. Source
  • Energy pass-through reduced Americas margin: Higher energy cost pass-through was a headwind of about 100 basis points to Americas operating margin. Source
  • Helium pricing headwind partly offset: Lower helium pricing was a headwind to results, partly mitigated by pricing improvements across non-helium product lines. Source

Helium supply and customers

  • Helium supply chain actions: Management said it is increasing production in the U.S. network, drawing on a dedicated storage cavern, and increasing liquefaction to strengthen inventory. Source
  • Container fleet repositioned for flows: Portions of the large ISO container fleet were repositioned to help manage helium supply flows. Source
  • Americas volumes rose including helium: Americas volumes rose for both on-site and merchant sales, including helium, against a one-time prior-year contract amendment. Source

New wins and second-half drivers

  • Samsung selects company for Korea fab: Samsung selected the company to build, own and operate multiple production facilities and a bulk specialty gas supply system for a new advanced fab in South Korea. Source
  • Space supply and Florida plant plans: The company supplied liquid hydrogen and helium for NASA's Artemis II mission and announced plans for a new air separation unit in Cocoa, Florida. Source
  • Second-half benefits expected: Management expects second-half benefits from continued non-helium pricing actions, progress on productivity actions, and new assets ramping up. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Six-month capex below prior year: Capital expenditures were $1,788.4 million in the six months to 31 March, against $2,939.4 million a year earlier. Additions to plant and equipment were $2,358.8 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Cash provided by operating activities was $2,004.4 million for six months, against $1,139.8 million a year earlier. Cash and cash items were $951.0 million at 31 March. Source
  • Dividends and minority investment: Dividends paid to shareholders were $797.0 million over six months, up from $787.4 million. Noncontrolling interests invested $120.5 million, down from $355.7 million. Source

Demand and macroeconomic caution

  • Management cautious on macro uncertainty: Management said it remains cautious given uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment, while expecting second-half benefits. Source
  • Market volume outperformance cited: Management cited the first half and outperformance in market volume as part of its reasoning for the raised full-year guidance. Source
  • Europe volume gain from on-sites: The Europe volume improvement came from on-sites, including a prior-year turnaround, partly offset by lower helium volumes. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Third-quarter adjusted EPS range: Management guided third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS to $3.25 to $3.35. Source
  • Second-half benefits to build: Management expects second-half benefits from non-helium pricing, productivity actions, and new assets ramping up. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Lower helium pricing was a headwind that non-helium pricing improvements only partly mitigated. Source
  • Operational: Higher power costs were partly mitigated by non-helium pricing gains in the Americas segment. Source
  • Operational: Europe income was partly offset by higher depreciation and fixed-cost inflation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management continues to expect capital expenditures of approximately $4.0 billion for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Ahead: Adjusted EPS of $3.20 was reported as exceeding the top end of the second-quarter guidance range. Source
  • Not stated: Management says it remains focused on unlocking earnings growth, optimizing large projects, and maintaining capital discipline. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.